I lost the bitter sting over her win relatively quickly--the hardest thing about writing is the finished product is so subjective to readership. I thought her essay was decent, but if I had been a judge, it certainly wouldn't have made my short list. And, I admittedly held a bias. I entered all four categories and the "death" essay was one of the most vulnerable, honest, and good pieces I've ever written.

But interestingly enough. I was just thinking about this yesterday! Where did she go? I would've thought with a huge, potentially life-changing contest, Medium would've invested in months of promotional material surrounding and about the finalists & ultimate winner. She took the money & ran. That's tough.

I do think those of us who contribute our best work often will ultimately see a pay-off here, though. For now, I love Medium and it pays a few of my monthly bills. As long as I have the time and the platform exists, I'll keep slaving away.